Experiences of persons with multiple chemical sensitivity with mental health providers

Figures & data

Table 1 Services sought from mental health providers by 60 persons with MCS

Services	n
Counseling/help with coping	21
Disability evaluation	13
Help with depression	7
Medication review	5
Validation that condition is physical	2
Workers compensation evaluation	2
Help understanding neurological symptoms	2
Evaluation (referred by the primary care provider)	1
Help sorting out chemical reactions from depression	1
Required evaluation for Center for Independent Living	1
Help dealing with loss	1
Help for problems with getting sick at work	1

Abbreviation: MCS, multiple chemical sensitivity.

Table 2 Accommodations made by mental health providers for 60 persons with MCS

Accommodations	n
No fragrance	9
Seen in a different location (including outside or different room)	9
Chemical-free room	5
Allowed to avoid the waiting room	4
Allowed to wear a mask	4
Opened the window	3
Turned off fluorescent lights and/or electric equipment	3
No air freshener	2
Telephone therapy	2
Answered orally instead of writing	1
Warned of fresh paint	1
Allowed breaks to cope with fatigue	1
Special chair	1
Closed the door	1
No keyboard typing	1
Seen as first client of the day	1
Practitioner tried to have a room scent-free (but remnants lingered)	1

Abbreviation: MCS, multiple chemical sensitivity.

Table 3 How could mental health provision have been better according to 60 persons with MCS

How could help have been better?	n
Provider should have been more educated	10
The experience was already positive	7
Provider could have “believed” me	3
Discussion of and help with lifestyle changes	3
Provider recognize MCS as a physical condition	2
Safer office	2
An in-home intervention to set up family support	2
Providers should not push antidepressants	1
Have an advocate at each hospital	1
Be able to avoid waiting rooms	1
Windows that open	1
No smoking	1
Do not make us fight for the accommodations	1
A scent-free environment	1
Having a closer provider	1
In-person counseling	1
Break up testing over several days	1
Not going at all	1
Referral to Medicare/Medicaid provider	1
Understanding/compassion	1
I could have been accepted for full disability	1
I should have found someone more qualified	1

Abbreviation: MCS, multiple chemical sensitivity.

Table 4 Worst aspect of seeing mental health providers for 60 persons with MCS

Aspect	n
Getting a psychological label	5
Getting no accommodations	4
Provider not understanding MCS	3
Not being believed regarding symptoms	3
Exposures in the setting	3
Having to go through a stinky building to get there	2
Being given psychiatric medication	2
There was no worst aspect	2
Getting no help	2
Being humiliated/demeaned	2
Talking through a mask	1
Taking the MMPI	1
Getting sick	1
The exhaustion	1
Fragrance on chairs	1
Fragrance on employees	1
The cost	1
Lost disability benefits	1
Being on guard so as not to be perceived as psychiatric	1
No testing for toxic encephalopathy only for psychological disorders	1
Being seen as trying to get out of work	1
Admitting it is chronic/lifelong	1
Embarrassment of talking about a disorder that could be perceived as psychiatric	1
Admitting that it could be a brain defect “on record”	1
Having an aloof examiner document notes	1
Lack of support/advice/discussion	1
Feeling as if I were talking to a stump	1
Getting depressed and upset	1

Abbreviations: MCS, multiple chemical sensitivity; MMPI, Minnesota Multiplasic Personality Inventory.